NEWSTIPS Posted May 17, 2004 Posted May 17, 2004 The rescue has been delayed yet again by inclement weather. The 2 climbing rangers who are heading towards them have encountered some pretty bad conditions and that haws slowed their progress significantly. Their new estimate of when they will reach Peter and Scott is around 2pm on Monday. The Chinook that the OR Nat'l Guard sent to the rescue efforts tried to make a rescue once today but had to abort due to weather conditions. Nat'l weather service says it doesn't look likely that conditions will improve enough today to make another attempt by air. Quote
K_Y_L_E Posted May 17, 2004 Posted May 17, 2004 How were the conditions up there when they started on Saturday? Looked real, real crappy from the reports and webcams I saw... Was it clear above 10k or something? Hope the weather improves for them..... -Fear It was pretty messy up there on saturday. Raining a bit until 6500k or so. not too windy but you could not see from one marker to the next. Despite hearing it was clear but cold and windy at muir, we stopped at about 8200 because a novice climber was feeling ill. It cleared up about 8:30 pm sat night, But snowed about 2 inches that night. Clear skies from 7k up on sunday until about noon or 1pm, then clouds rolled up from the south east and it started to snow again. While we were up there (Muir snow field) at approx 9:30am sunday we saw a chinook helicopter circle paradise 3-4 times at an elevation of 9k or so (could damn near see the pilots face). There were a few avalanches on the Nisqually in the late morning/early afternoon on sunday but no sign of trouble otherwise. Thats why I am a little confused. How could the chopper not get there if the weather was clear all sunday morning from 7000-7500k up?? wind? My prayers are with them. God speed to the rescue team. Quote
ken4ord Posted May 17, 2004 Posted May 17, 2004 Well the helicopter had to turn back this morning because of bad weather. They are saying that they are going under the assumption that they will not be able to reach Peter and Scott by helicopter. The forecast up on the mountain is not good for the next several days. The team of two are at 10,400 and will reach Peter and Scott around noon. At that point they will stabilize him and prepare to lower him down the mountain. They didn't say this, but knowing the terrain they will wait for the rest of the rescue party to arrive to lower him down the mountain, they will need them. My assumption is if the weather is not to severe they will begin lowering down the mountain late this afternoon, early evening. If the weather worsens then tomorow is when they will start lowering. There is suppose to be a press conference at noon. Quote
ChocChick Posted May 17, 2004 Posted May 17, 2004 Ken4ord, Sorry to hear about your friends. I had a feeling that you would know them. . . My thoughts are with the climbers. I hope they are doing well at this point, I really do. They mountain looked pretty socked in yesterday. Quote
NEWSTIPS Posted May 17, 2004 Posted May 17, 2004 The climbing rangers reached them at 12:05p today. Still waiting to hear how long it'll be til they come down from on high... Quote
ken4ord Posted May 17, 2004 Posted May 17, 2004 Cool, it would be sweet if they can get them off the mountain today. Quote
Winter Posted May 17, 2004 Posted May 17, 2004 Lowering off from that point on the Ridge is going to completely suck. Best of luck to the team that's up there and the injured climber. I hope everyone gets off safe. Quote
mr.radon Posted May 17, 2004 Posted May 17, 2004 (edited) Glad we had good weather when we did the route, even though there was a lot of freash snow on the route. Best wishes to everyone involved in this rescue. I’m glad to hear these two guys are prepared. It sounds like they are dealing with the situation as well as can be expected, only wish that in similar circumstances I perform as well as I’ve heard and read these two have. I’ve attached a picture jdog took of me around 12.3K. Edited May 17, 2004 by mr.radon Quote
kakeandjelly Posted May 17, 2004 Posted May 17, 2004 Sounds like they got a pretty good set of rescuers... My heart is really with those guys, as I plan on being up there next weekend... Kudos to Scott, sounds like he is really the kind of climbing partner that a guy wants to have... Quote
NEWSTIPS Posted May 17, 2004 Posted May 17, 2004 Chinook Helicopter circling the area right now trying to make the pickup. Live pics being streamed on king5.com. Quote
Loose_Brie Posted May 18, 2004 Posted May 18, 2004 according to King5.com: An Army helicopter successfully rescued an injured climber from the sides of Mt. Rainier Monday afternoon after several earlier attempts failed. Newstips: Do you have a link to the video? Quote
olyclimber Posted May 18, 2004 Posted May 18, 2004 That was a gnarly looking cloud that just blew by....on their way to Madigen Hospital. Here's to Peter...let's hope he pulls through OK. And here is to the chopper pilot(s). And let's not forget the guys who climbed up there to help in the crappy weather ...here is one for Scott too. ....I think that covers it. Quote
JoshK Posted May 18, 2004 Posted May 18, 2004 You may want to change the first line of your story to read "Ashford, WA" not "Ashford, OR" Quote
Loose_Brie Posted May 18, 2004 Posted May 18, 2004 And its Ranger Mike Gauthier not "Ranger Rick Gauthier" Quote
CascadeClimber Posted May 18, 2004 Posted May 18, 2004 You may want to change the first line of your story to read "Ashford, WA" not "Ashford, OR" Yeah, and I'm pretty sure it's "Mike Gauthier", not "Rick Gauthier". Where is the King4 QC deepirtment, on Sping Brake? Quote
NEWSTIPS Posted May 18, 2004 Posted May 18, 2004 Thanks for the corrections. I have nothing to do with the website, but I have called them to alert them of the errors. Still trying to find the video stream online so I can give you the addy... Quote
robert Posted May 18, 2004 Posted May 18, 2004 They have it right on the clip, but they missed it on the link. Quote
olyclimber Posted May 18, 2004 Posted May 18, 2004 There is a link to the video up there now... Quote
Dru Posted May 18, 2004 Posted May 18, 2004 Yeah, and I'm pretty sure it's "Mike Gauthier", not "Rick Gauthier". "Ranger, Ranger Rick, Ranger, Ranger Rick, Yogi has an enemy..." Quote
catbirdseat Posted May 18, 2004 Posted May 18, 2004 I just saw the footage of the chinook rescue on King 5 TV. The litter dangled from one end rather than being hung from a bridle. Is that normal procedure? Quote
olyclimber Posted May 18, 2004 Posted May 18, 2004 I just saw the footage of the chinook rescue on King 5 TV. The litter dangled from one end rather than being hung from a bridle. Is that normal procedure? Ya, I sure hope that was just a sleeping bag whipping around that near the upper part of the litter... Quote
marylou Posted May 18, 2004 Posted May 18, 2004 Catbird: Stefan can tell you about the dangle on the wire. Ask him to describe his litter pick sometime. Yikers. Elizabeth: Thank you for keeping us posted. Quote
iain Posted May 18, 2004 Posted May 18, 2004 Chinook helicopters have a small hole in the deck for hoisting so the vertical orientation is necessary. It also provides less surface area for the rotor wash to start spinning the package (though tag lines can be used to minimize this on a horizontal litter). Quote
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